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The Civil Servant Husband Part 3

Do you think that women who are being served by men in the capacity of a servile servant (“gentleman”) really think of these men as being their “Chief”? The only way a husband can still be considered “the chief” over his wife and yet still serve his wife is if he serves her in the capacity of a civil servant—simple and plain!

Matthew 20:27 “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.”

The scripture above is one of the main things that Jesus said in which modern preachers take out of context concerning superiors (husbands) toward their subordinates (wives). What Jesus said above shouldn’t be taken in the context of him telling his disciples that they should be servile servants to their subordinates.

It is written that IT IS EVIL for princes (chiefs) to be walking as servants (subordinates) upon the earth.

Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 “There is [an evil] which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.”

So, it couldn’t be that Jesus was telling his disciples TO DO EVIL and be servile servants (princes walking as servants upon the earth) for the people whom he was going to set them over. The disciples had to exercise some ecclesiastical authority in some way to show that they were in authority. It is reasonable to believe that Jesus knew that. What Jesus was trying to do was teach his disciples [not] to be despots and tyrants over people like the secular authorities in their day (and in this day) were to people. Jesus rather his disciples be servants to the people who he was going to set them over. Specifically, Jesus wanted his disciples to be civil servants to the people he was going to set them over.

Jesus first taught his disciples the virtue of serving when they were at variance against each other on who was “the greatest” among them. At this moment of the disciples’ lack of humility, Jesus taught them that he came to serve or minister to the people who God the Father had put him over. He didn’t come to exercise oppressive dominion over people like a despot or tyrant.

Matthew 20:27-28 “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man (Jesus) came not to be ministered unto, but to minister (minster means “to serve”), and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Luke 22:24-27 “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.”

Although Jesus said he came toserve (or minister), that didn’t mean Jesus passed up being served himself by people. Jesus commanded that those who wanted to be one of his disciples were toserve him, in so much that they had to hate (neglect) their own flesh and blood if they had to for his sake and to take care of his business.

Luke 14:25-27 “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple (servant). And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

Furthermore, Jesus was so adamant on being served by his followers and being served FIRST by them (before he was to serve them), that he gave a brief but substantive example to them to let them know that they weren’t doing him any favors by serving him and serving him FIRST. Since he was their superior as he told them he was.

Matthew 23:8-11“But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

Luke 17:7-10 “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, [and serve me], till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

Jesus’ followers serving him (their superior) was nothing more than what was expected of them to do for him (i.e. Colossians 1:13-16) as them being his subordinates or servants.

Once again, Jesus didn’t pass up on people serving him as servile servants. He didn’t tell people “Oh, it’s alright, you don’t have to serve me, I am the one who came to serve & minister and to give my life for a ransom for many.” Instead, Jesus sat down and relaxed so to speak and allowed his [men] followers to serve him as a superior supposed to do. First, Jesus didn’t get his hands dirty “like a servile servant” because he didn’t baptize anyone, he had his [men] disciples do all the baptizing on his behalf.

John 4:1-2 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples.”

Jesus toward his [men] servants acted like “a Prince upon a horse as a Prince” (cf. Eccl 10:5-7). Nevertheless, when it was Jesus turn to get “his hands dirty” and serve as a civil servant, he did it and thus was beaten and crucified on the behalf of many.

Matthew 26:26-28 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Matthew 27:26-31 “Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had [scourged Jesus], he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.”

Secondly, Jesus wasn’t a “gentleman” unto women “like a servile servant.” Jesus toward his [women] servants acted like “a Prince upon horse as a Prince.” The women who followed Jesus served him as servile servants, in so much that one penitent woman washed his feet with her hair and afterward she kissed his feet. While this penitent woman was doing this humble act Jesus didn’t tell her “Stop, kissing my feet, I am your servant, since I am FIRST (i.e. adult male), I should be last of all and servant of all (Mark 9:34-35).” Again, Jesus sat down and relaxed so to speak and allowed the penitent woman to wash his feet with her hair and kiss his feet. And Jesus allowed his other [women] followers to serve him in similar menial ways as he was supposed to, being that he was their superior and they were women.

Luke 7:36-38 “And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, [and kissed his feet], and anointed them with the ointment.”

Matthew 26:6-13 “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him [a woman] having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye [the woman]? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that [this woman] hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

Matthew 27:46, 50-51, 55-56 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; [And many women] were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him (serving him): Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.”

Nevertheless, when it was Jesus turn to serve in a menial way [like women] he did it. In accordance with what we read that Abigail said she would do—wash feet!

I Samuel 25:40-42 “And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said,Behold, let thine handmaid be [a servant] to [wash the feet] of the servants of my lord. And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.”

Jesus washed his disciples’ feet “like a servile servant.” With this sentimental servile act, Jesus was teaching a lesson to his disciples of the goodvirtue of serving (which is showing someone that you truly love them when you serve them). As I said already in this post, servile service is the prerequisite of civil service, that is why Jesus taught his disciples the virtue of serving in this servile way of washing their feet. That his disciples may learn the virtue of serving and become good civil servants (not servile servants) to the people he would put them over. Jesus’ disciples wouldn’t understand this sentimental act of service to latter on when they would start their own ministries. Cause in many cases the disciples learned as they went.

John 13:3-17 “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to [Simon Peter]: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. [For I have given you an example], that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

Peter, who Jesus told while he was serving Peter in washing his feet “what I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter,” eventually learned the virtue of serving those who you are over (as Jesus said he would), instead of being a despot or tyrant over them.

I Peter 5:1-4 “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed (serve) the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords (despots or tyrants) over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

But again, the elders of the church, or male heads of households, are to serve the people in whom they are over as civil servants not as servile servants (or “gentlemen”).

Jesus, like he taught Peter, tried to teach a Pharisee who invited him over to his house the virtue of serving. Which again is showing someone that you love them. But the Pharisee at first rebuked Jesus from letting “a sinner” wash his feet with her hair. Afterwards Jesus rebuked the Pharisee from not being humble and showing him the “same love” by serving him, like the penitent woman was doing unto him.

Luke 7:36-48 “And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, [and kissed his feet], and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to [kiss my feet]. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much (for she “served” much): but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.”

Hopefully the Pharisee learned this lesson of “love” as Peter did, and learned the virtue of serving the people he was over instead of being a despot and a “judge” over them. Cause a “prince upon a horse as a prince” should be upon “the horse” (pedestal) as a civil servant, not a despot. As a “servant walking upon the earth as a servant” should be “walking” (walking in God’s Law) as a servile servant not a usurper of ordain authority.

Far as Peter again, the Lord really focused on inculcating him on the virtue of serving more than any other of his disciples because Peter was going to be the head of the church under the new covenant. So, when the Lord asked Peter thrice “do he love him,” and Peter thrice responded “yes,” than the Lord after each one of the three times told Peter to “feed his sheeps/lambs” to show the Lord that Peter loved him. In other words, Peter must serve the Lord as a servile servant by being a civil servant to the Lord’s people. Thus, in both cases, Peter would be showing that he loved the Lord and the people of the Lord (who the Lord put him over), by serving both parties in the designated capacities—servile service to the Lord and civil service to the people of the Lord.

John 21:15-17“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that [I love thee]. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

Translating all I said above about the virtue of serving to a covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, if your spouse doesn’t serve you in their allotted capacity, whether that be the civil servant (husband) or servile servant (wife), then they don’t love you and you are not desirable to them—simple and plain.